A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Festive Season

The winter break provide a plethora of pastimes much better than checking the updates: opening presents, indulging in holiday treats, and using deep breathing to refrain from yelling at relatives. I hope you were able to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling announcements came out over the break, and if you overlooked a few, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (In 2027)

Truly the most shocking announcement, the widely-criticized controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. However, the main art for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, by now, they could be mocking the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it maintained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now the community is ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production

Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been going on for a while, and its sixth season was another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

Another studio known for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the true story of Fatima, an influential woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Season Two

Shortly after the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not been disclosed yet.